Iran-backed militias in Iraq have reportedly claimed responsibility for shooting down a US military aircraft in the country’s western region, according to reports on Friday.
The group said the attack was carried out in retaliation for what it described as violations of Iraq’s sovereignty.
On Friday, the U.S. confirmed that four crew members were killed when a KC-135 military refueling plane was lost while flying over Iraq.
However, officials said the incident was “not due to hostile or enemy fire.”
In a statement early Friday morning, the U.S. Central Command said the aircraft went down in western Iraq.
“Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue,” it said. “The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
Iran-aligned armed factions in Iraq have repeatedly targeted US forces stationed in the country amid heightened regional tensions tied to the war in Gaza and the broader standoff between Washington and Tehran.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is an umbrella network that includes several Shiite militias believed to maintain close links with Iran’s security establishment and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which backs allied armed groups across the Middle East.
